On-song Hanson leads Boxing Day hit Parade as he fires Bradford City into top 20 (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

On-song James Hanson leads Boxing Day hit Parade as he fires Bradford City into top 20

8:10am Tuesday 27th December 2011 in Match Reports By Simon Parker

Bradford City 3 Crewe 0

It was a hugely satisfying afternoon of firsts as City completed the first half of their festive double at Valley Parade yesterday.

The Bantams made it back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

This was their first victory at home in the league since October and a first defeat for new Crewe boss Steve Davis.

Most importantly it was the first time that City have been above 20th in the table since Colin Cooper’s caretaker triumph over Barnet at the back end of August.

James Hanson scored twice – as he did that day – against a team who had beaten the Bantams in four of their last five meetings. This was satisfying revenge for that 5-1 in May.

Phil Parkinson was forced into changing the side that won so impressively ten days earlier at Southend after Michael Flynn fell ill over the Christmas weekend.

So Ritchie Jones started his first league game since November 5, while the captain’s armband went to Craig Fagan.

But the biggest cheer heralded the return of David Syers on the bench for his first involvement for more than four months. Robbie Threlfall, out since October, was also back among the substitutes.

Early wins for Plymouth – coming back from two down – and Dagenham had slashed the gap to the bottom to just two points before City had even kicked off.

But they wasted no time in looking to re-establish that advantage by scoring the quickest goal of the season. And without doubt, the most bizarre.

Hanson flicked on Jon McLaughlin’s long clearance, David Artell tried to head back out but his clearance hit the incoming Nahki Wells and looped over Steve Phillips into the Crewe net.

Far from deflating the visitors, they almost levelled within a minute through equally strange circumstances. Carl Martin’s 40-yard free-kick was no doubt meant for an Alex head but the wind-assisted ball drifted over McLaughlin and bounced back into play off the inside of the post.

The breathless start continued and Andrew Davies had to whip the ball off 17-year-old Max Clayton’s toes inside the City box as Crewe pushed again.

The openness of the game was summed up as Nick Powell was allowed to travel 25 yards unchecked before sliding his shot wide left of the City goal.

City felt a few decisions were going against them and a foul on Kyel Reid after 20 minutes raised an ironic cheer.

Reid’s corner then could have produced a second and Davies was annoyed with himself for putting a free header over – as well as taking a whack for his troubles.

Davies went down again and needed treatment after a foul from Wes Fletcher, which earned the on-loan Burnley striker the first yellow.

Simon Ramsden set up another decent chance with an inviting cross to the far post. Hanson inevitably was on the end of it and Wells forced a good save from Phillips with his shot on the turn.

Ramsden was back on defensive duties to bravely get his head in the way of Byron Moore’s volley. Powell tried an acrobatic effort with the rebound after McLaughlin half punched away but City survived the scare.

Back they came through the pace of Reid as he raced to the corner of the Crewe box. He ran out of room at that point but the loose ball ran to Hanson for a skidding drive that clipped the left post with Phillips beaten.

Hanson was carrying on his form from Roots Hall and linked well with Fagan on City’s right before his cross-shot just eluded Jones sliding in at the far post.

Ricky Ravenhill picked up his fifth booking – two of them had been with parent club Notts County – for a foul on Lee Bell. Powell’s well-hit free-kick was safely turned over the bar by McLaughlin.

Referee Paul Tierney was not a popular figure with the home side and Davies took his complaints too far and was shown a yellow card for dissent. Again Powell tried his luck but hit it straight at the keeper.

The end-to-end nature of the game continued into first-half stoppage time as Wells twice had a go at extending City’s advantage. The Bermudian’s partnership with Hanson was pulling the Crewe back four all over the place.

The Bantams headed for the interval in high spirits but knowing the job was far from done. A second goal was still on the agenda.

But the omens were on their side. Crewe had trailed at half-time in nine previous league games this season and only come back once to force a draw at Northampton.

City suffered a huge blow just five minutes into the second half when Reid collapsed to the ground clutching his leg. It looked like a hamstring injury for the winger, who was immediately replaced by Jack Compton.

With Compton’s loan up shortly it is likely to mean the Falkirk man will be encouraged to stay longer, with Reid facing a lengthy spell out.

Reid left on a stretcher and looked distraught, despite the huge cheer he received from the fans.

City’s problems immediately piled up as Crewe were awarded a penalty after Powell went down theatrically under Ravenhill’s challenge. Oliver confronted the Crewe teenager while he was still on the ground to say what he thought as the home side fumed about the decision.

But justice was done in Bantam eyes as Bell’s thumping spot-kick smashed against the bar and then bounced down on the line before McLaughlin tidied up under pressure. Davies was clattered in the melee and needed another touchline patch-up – he was really in the wars.

There was little Christmas cheer for Powell, the pantomime villain of the piece with the crowd, and he was loudly booed every time the ball came his way.

The second goal that City really needed finally arrived after 65 minutes and it was due reward for Hanson’s hard work.

Crewe failed to clear their lines from a high ball into the box and though they managed to blot out Wells, Hanson returned it with interest as his left-foot blast flew past Phillips at the near post. It was now City’s to lose but McLaughlin still had to be alert to make a diving two-handed catch from sub Ashley Westwood’s cross.

Wells went off to a standing ovation and Mark Stewart got another late run-out to press his claims with the manager.

City were still hungry for more and Compton weaved between two defenders before wasting the cross.

But they were not to be denied. Stewart was brought down ten yards inside Crewe’s half, Oliver nodded on Compton’s free-kick and Hanson drilled his second of the afternoon.

And there was still time for Syers to make a popular return for the final couple of minutes.